25/3 ... Epi 1 Chhanchhan - A New Journey Begins

Monday 25th March '13

Teaser for first episode
http://www.india-forums.com/video/sony-tv/273468-chhan-chhan-first-episode-teaser.htm

Will update episode later ... soooo good to be back to daily updates!

Sanayalicious ... and doggilicious episode :)
Good to see Sanaya back on screen. Loved her intro!
Battle lines set up already.
IPK had arrogant egoistic hero, here we have arrogant egoistic MIL ... the power of money.
Liked the friends' scenes ... reminded me of my college friends :(
The Supriya Sanaya face offs will be good ... both awesome actresses! 

*Edited* 

The start of a new journey ... hope this one is as big a milestone in Sanaya's career as MJHT and IPKKND were. Fingers crossed ...

The episode -Daadi trying to fix up rishta for rebellious granddaughter, who according to her is way past marriageable age ... first refreshing change - the girl is not 18 and fresh out of school.
Daadi's one-liner of the day - marriages are made in heaven ... 'so do you expect me to wait for you to go up and throw a guy down from there for my granddaughter?'
Marriage counsellor provides suitable boy ... with the face of a dog Because apparently said granddaughter, apart from being old, also has another disadvantage ... she loves dogs! And this is a sanskaari dog - he does namaste too So Daadi, please adjust with his face, after all, he is adjusting with Chhanchhan's age

Daadi wakes up in panic and runs to her son's room ... Dad manages to placate and calm her down, barely managing to hide his amusement ... tells her to recite the Gayatri mantra to calm herself down.
By morning, the whole house knows about Daadi's dream ... much to Daadi's indignation!

Introduction of Chhanchhan ... with dogs ... considering this is Sanaya's show, the intro could have been a bit grander! CC playing with dogs as she goes about her job of training ... Moti aunty is happy and pays her ... sent off with a reminder to feed her dog less than she feeds herself!

Chhanchhan returns home, where Daadi is grumbling about her unconventional family and their lack of concern about her eldest grand daughter's marriage ... dad, an artist, mom, a history professor, brother a wildlife photographer and sister, a tattoo artist ... liked the way they neatly brought in the fact that getting God's or husband's name tattooed was the norm in the old days! Mom couldn't cook when she got married, was taught by Daadi ... me liking both Mom and Daadi! People after my own heart!
Chhanchhan returns, and is as amused as the rest about Daadi's dream ... rushes off for her friend's wedding ... first she has to get PuchPuch ready an adorable Shih Tzu ... She  almost forgets to get ready herself in the rush!
Friends scene ... ready made sarees for all ... my daughter would appreciate this one! Cute bonding between the friends ... Chhanchhan and one friend set off on scooty to get prasad from temple ... first deja vu of Khushi with the scooty scene ... pretty much the only one I felt during the episode.

Temple scene - the first clash ... as panditji tells Chhanchhan and friend that Vishnuji is sleeping so no darshan ... Uma Ben arrives, a quick greasing of palms and Vishnuji can be woken up from his slumber. As Uma Ben superciliously tells Chhanchhan ... 'Vishnuji wakes up only for Lakshmi.' Great voice inflections by Supriya P there. Also the way she tells her servant - 'upar karo' the umbrella ... pure arrogance in the voice - I'm talking to an inferior being.
Chhanchhan calls a spade a spade ... 'this is bribery.' Uma Ben not amused. Pandit wisely removes himself from the battlefield. CC's friend equally wisely reminds CC that they don't have the time to battle over ideals, because Purvi is waiting for the prasad. Chhanchhan unwillingly agrees ... Uma Ben rubs it in by asking her for thanks ... Chhanchhan thanks her politely ... but her eyes give her away. This is not right ... 
The clashes between Sanaya and Supriya are going to be good to watch. 


Back to the friends ... as Purvi gets ready worriedly (pity the girl is only there for a cameo, I liked her) ... and Chhanchhan arrives ... again, sweet friends's scene, they promise to stay together, and refuse to take or give dowry ... nice to see this, I wish they would show guys of today also pledging the same thing! A message that cannot be repeated too often in our country!

Chhanchhan has left the gift in her scooty, so she goes with friend to fetch it ... and bumps into male lead ... who apparently is allergic to dogs ... and as rude as his mom. And Chhanchhan isn't the apologetic sorts either!

My take -
First of all, GOOD to see Sanaya back on screen again! Lights up the screen with her sheer presence! TV just got interesting again!

Uma Ben is not the same as Dina Pathak from Khubsoorat ... she is more like a female ASR, with her arrogance about her money and position. And Chhanchhan is as feisty as Khushi, but more balanced and thehri hui, can hold her tongue when required ... the way she bit her tongue when asked by Uma Ben to say sorry, and then said the words politely enough, even with a smile, but one which didn't reach her eyes ... no disrespect to elders, but has the courage of her convictions. Nice!   Very much my kind of girl!

I love the way Sanaya has managed to shake off Khushi ... the exaggerated mannerisms and facial gestures were missing, the acting was much more restrained, the clash with Supriya was very restrained, quiet and dignified, the objections voiced very politely, yet firmly ... no 'darti hai par karti hai' here ... it's very much 'dil ka kahaa maanti hai' ... she will do what she feels is right, and has the confidence to do so. More like Dr. Simran from Astitva ... firm-voiced, confident, yet polite and graceful with it.

I liked the friends' scene ... the girls were not great actors, but they were decent, and the loudness and chirpiness reminded me of my gang from college ... as did the soft-voiced farewells and bitter-sweet happiness at the first of many weddings, which would eventually break up the friends' circle. We wondered how we would survive not being able to talk to each other every day, twenty times a day, after living in the same hostel for almost ten years ... the scenes brought back those memories.

The introduction of an unconventional family was the only scene which seemed a bit forced ... introducing each member and their profession, and emphasizing on the unconventionality of the family ...
Loved the dogs in the show ... Sanaya is obviously completely comfortable with dogs, and it shows.

All in all, a good first episode ... will take a little while for everyone to sink into character ... Sanaya, Supriya and Chhanchhan's parents are already pretty much in synch ... the friends, CC's brother and sister will take a little time. Male lead ... didn't notice him much today, he was barely there. He has a tough time ahead trying to match up to both Sanaya and Supriya.